Bottleneck to be addressed

The regulatory framework governing the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) in the current programming period (2014-2020) does not directly support the funding of actions / investments that explicitly support the shift towards a circular economy at the urban level. Although there are some funding means such as the Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) and the URBACT under the European Territorial Cooperation goal that may occasionally use circular economy as a topic for funding, the funding provided for circular economy related actions under these programmes is limited and insufficient to create the needed impetus for the implementation of such a policy priority.

Objective

Support the shift towards the circular economy in cities requires specific and clear references in the regulatory framework as to the eligibility of the relevant actions/operations. To that end, provisions should be foreseen in the European Cohesion Policy post 2020 to ensure that the ESIF programmes contribute substantially and consistently to the transition towards a circular economy in EU cities. Furthermore, a clear reference and focus on circular economy (at urban level) in the ESIF regulatory framework could decisively boost related investments, which in turn contribute to the achievement of Cohesion Policy objectives and in particular of territorial cohesion, as well as to the achievement of other Union goals, ultimately contributing to investments with high European value added.

Output

A detailed set of legislative options and complementary alternative recommendations is proposed to be elaborated and submitted under this action that could be useful to the Commission services in charge of planning the European Cohesion Policy post 2020 and preparing the relevant regulations. Moreover, it is proposed to communicate the results and recommendations of this action to all the European Institutions (European Parliament, Council, EESC, CoR). Finally it would be recommended to participate/ organise coordinated events for the dissemination of the results and proposals and the awareness-raising of a wider group of stakeholders (e.g. metropolitan cities, cities networks, etc.).